Salinas Chamber names annual community awards winners

Jan. 23, 2014

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The Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce has named the recipients of its 93rd Community Awards. They include major names in the valley’s agriculture industry and one man who will receive his second nod in 15 years as Citizen of the Year.

The annual Awards Luncheon will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 27 at Sherwood Hall in Salinas, with an estimated attendance of more than 500 people.

Paul Farmer, the president of the chamber, announced that the Small Business of the Year was awarded to Alvarez Technology Group in Salinas. The locally owned information technology services company maintains and improves the technology investment of small and mid-sized businesses. Co-owner Luis Alvarez has served as president of the Rotary Club of Salinas and is a past chairman of the chamber. The company is being recognized for its rapid growth and contributions to the community, Farmer said.

The Large Business of the Year kudos go to family-owned Mann Packing Co., which this year recognizes its 75th year in business. Headed by Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Lorri Koster, the business has been certified as a Woman Business Enterprise.

Gill Campbell, the chief executive officer and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, is receiving the Businesswoman of the Year award. She began her career as a teacher in England, and then launched into event planning in Portland, Oregon. In 2002 she was named CEO of Laguna Seca.

Warren Wayland is no stranger to the Citizen of the Year award. He received the honor the first time in 1998 and will also hold the title for 2014. As the president of Public Recreation Unlimited and president of the Salinas Regional Sports Authority, Wayland spearheaded the fundraising for and construction of the new Rabobank Stadium.

He also co-founded Hayashi & Wayland Accounting & Consulting in 1977. He is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, and has served as president of the California Rodeo Association.

Two well known names in Salinas are splitting the Ag Leadership Award— Gary Tanimura and Bob Antle of Tanimura & Antle, one of the largest independent lettuce growers in the United States. Gary Tanimura is the executive vice president of the company and Bob Antle is co-chairman of the company’s board of directors. Antle is credited with ushering in several new produce industry initiatives, including crop transplants, development of distribution centers for wrapped lettuce products and the implementation of consistent pricing structures.

And the final award went to Shawn and Amanda Bakker as the Spirit of the Community. The pair were led a community-wide effort to plan and build Tatum’s Garden, the first fully inclusive and accessible playground in Salinas. They raised more than $1 million and enlisted the help of hundreds of volunteers.